Modular disposable foldable container

ABSTRACT

A hexagonal or octagonal container made from an integral blank including six or eight panels forming the sides of the container and a glue flap at one end of the blank to overlie the opposite end panel to be fastened thereto to hold the container assembled. End closure panels are foldably connected to and extend from half of the panels. The end closure panels include fastening flaps attachable to the opposite side panel of the container. Extending from the side panels located between the end closure flaps and rigid therewith there may be supporting legs.

O United States Patent 1 1 3,559,871

I 72 inventor James N- Vaughn 998,109 7/191 1 Morlan 229/38 1015 River Drive. Hammond. Ind. 46324 1,553,793 9/1925 Rozowsky .l 229/8 [21] Appl No, 760,939 1,679,121 7/1928 Freedman (229/41CUX) [22] Filed Sept. 19. 1968 2,067,998 1/1937 Williamson .1 229/8X [45] Patented Feb. 2, 1971 2,077,173 4/1937 Holy (229/4lCUX) [54] MODULAR DISPOSABLE FOLDABLE CONTAINER 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 229/39, 229/38, 229/37. 229/41 [51] Int. Cl B65d 5/08 [50] Field of Search 229/39, 38. 37 41C. 8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 647,897 4/1900 Kramer 229/38 862,722 8/1907 Douglas 229/38 Primary Examiner-David M. Bockenek Attorney-Sabin C. Bronson ABSTRACT: A hexagonal or octagonal container made from an integral blank including six or eight panels forming the sides of the container and a glue flap at one end of the blank to overlie the opposite end panel to be fastened thereto to hold the container assembled. End closure panels are foldably connected to and extend from half of the panels. The end closure panels include fastening flaps attachable to the opposite side panel of the container. Extending from the side panels located between the end closure flaps and rigid therewith there may be supporting legs.

PATENTEDFEB 2|97| 3559.871

' sum 1 OF 2 INVENTOR JAM S N. VAUGHN 'ATW PATENTS-FINE" PlHII- 3.559.871

"sumznr I 'INVENTOR JAMES N VAUGHA MODULAR DISPOSABLE FOLDABLE CONTAINER BACKGROUND SUMMARY DRAWINGS The present invention relates to foldable containers made from cardboard and similar materials constructed for packaging articles of merchandise and more particularly to a new and novel polygonal container formed from a unitary blank.

Heretofore, polygonal containers of the foregoing type have generally included a complex end closure structure of varying shapes and sizes so that the containers were difiicult to assemble. Moreover, because of the relative frangibility of the material from which the container was made the end closure structure was frequently creased or torn so that the resulting container was structurally defective. Also the size and shape of the end closures were such that there was considerable waste material left after the formation of the container blank.

By the present invention it is proposed to overcome the difficulties encountered heretofore and to provide an economical, easy-to-assemble polygonal container.

This is accomplished generally by forming an integral blank including foldable side panels and foldable end closure panels extending from half of the side panels. An attachment flap is contiguous with one of the side panels and overlies the opposite end side panel in the assembled condition of the blank. End closure attachment ears extend from the ends of the end closure flaps and are fastened to an opposite side panel.

A feature of the invention is the provision of supporting legs which extend integrally from certain of the side panels located between the end closure flaps so that the container may be used as a display device or the like.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings forming part of this application and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an integral blank for forming the container of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container assembled from the blank shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary and perspective view of the container with some of the side panels broken away to show the manner in which the end closure panels are fastened to the sidewall;

FIG. 4 is a plan view partly broken away of a modified integral blank for forming the container of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view partly broken away of a further modified blank for forming the container of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, the blank shown in FIG. 1 is cut from a single sheet of cardboard or other suitable foldable material. The cardboard may be suitably coated to render it waterproof as by a polyethylene coating or the like.

The unitary or integral blank 10 is scored transversely to form fold lines 11, defining side panels l2, l3, 14, 15, 16 and 17. A score line l8along the end of the side panel 12 defines a fastening or glue strip 19. The fastening strip 19 is coated with a suitable adhesive so that it may be adhered to the edge margin of the opposite sidewall 17.

Extending from alternate ones of the side panels and defined by fold lines 21 formed as by scoring are top closure panels 22, 23 and 24 and bottom closure panels 26, 27 and 28. As shown, the top closure panels 22, 23 and 24 extend from alternate side panels I3, 15 and 17 respectively while the bottom closure panels 26, 27 and 28 extend from alternate panels 12, I4 and 16 respectively, although this is not necessarily so.

End closure flaps 29 are defined adjacent the ends of each of the end closure panels by fold lines 30 formed by a transverse score. In the form shown the end closure flaps 29 are I each formed with oppositely directed and outwardly project- Rigidly extending from the side panels I3, 15 and 17 are supporting legs 33. The legs 33 may be cut to any desired length, preferably not greater than the length of the bottom end closure panels 26, 27 and 28, thereby to reduce the waste material during the formation of the blank 10.

To assemble the container 20 the side panels l2l7 inclusive are folded about the respective fold lines 11 into the hexagonal configuration shown. The attachment strip 19 is folded so that it overlies the outer edge portion of the panel 17 and is compressed thereagainst so that the adhesive on the flap is adhered thereto.

The top end closure panels 22, 23 and 24 and bottom end closure panels 26, 27 and 28 are folded inwardly in diagonal crossed relationship as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The respective end closure flaps 29 are folded to a position normal to the end closure panels so as to lie in flush engagement with the inner surface of the side panels. The attachment ears 32-32 may be bent slightly inwardly to clear the end closure panels integral with the two adjacent side panels. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the end closure flaps 29 depend from the end closure 27. The end closure flap 29 of panel 27, for example, is folded upwardly and the attachment ears 32-32 thereof are bent inwardly slightly to clear the integral ends of the end closure panels 26 and 28 until the lower edge thereof is disposed above the panels 26 and 28. The attachment ears are then free i to conform to and lie flush against the adjacent side panels 12 and 16 both broken away in overlying relationship with the end closure panels 26 and 28 so that the end closure panel 27 is held locked. The remaining upper and lower end closure panels are similarly assembled to diagonally form the top and bottom end closures. It is to be understood that the attachment ears 32 may be omitted, in which event the end closure flaps 29 would be frictionally held against the inner surface of the side panels, which friction would be increased by the outward pressure of whatever material was carried within the container.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom end closure panels 26, 27 and 28 extend diagonally from side panels 12 to l5, 14 to 17 and 16 to 13 respectively. The top end closure panels are staggered relative thereto and extend in the opposite direction from side panels 15 to l2, 17 to 14 and 13 to 16 respectively, although this is not necessarily so as they may extend from the same side panels as the top closure panels. This manner of diagonally crossing the end closure panels is effective to impart radial rigidity to the container 20.

The container 20 may be used as a display stand to exhibit an article of merchandise contained therein. When used in this manner, the blank 10 may be formed without the end closure panels 22, 23 and 24 or they may be removed. The container, because of the simple and economical construction, may be particularly useful in the merchandising of nursery products such as seedlings and the like. Moreover, the hexagonal shape of the container permits placement in side-to-side relationship so that the number of containers in a given display area is markedly increased.

Referring now to the modification shown in FIG. 4, there is there shown an integral blank 40 cut from a single sheet of foldable material which is scored to form fold lines 41 defining side panels 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48 and 49. A score line 50 along the side of panel 42 defines a narrow glue strip 51, which, when the blank is folded on the fold lines 41 to form an octagonal container, overlaps the end edge of panel 49. Glue strip 51 is coated with suitable adhesive material so that it can be attached to the edge margin of panel 49, either on the inside or outside.

In this modification I have shown top closure panels 52, 53, 54 and 55, defined by fold lines 56, extending from side panels 42, 43, 44 and 45. Similarly, extending from the opposite end of panels 42, 43, 44 and 45, and defined by fold lines 57, are bottom closure panels 58, 59, 60 and 61.

Top and bottom end closure flaps 62 extend from each of the top and bottom end closure panels and are defined by fold lines 63.

Thus when the blank is folded on the fold lines 41 so that the glue strip 51 over or under laps the free edge margin of side panel 49 and is adhered thereto, an octagonal hollow tube is formed with the end closure panels extending therefrom. The bottom closure panel 58, 59, 60 and 61 are then folded on fold lines 57 and bottom closure panels 58, 59, 60 and 61 are then folded on fold f lines 57 and bottom closure panl 58 extends across to the opposite side panel 46 where the closure flap 62 engages the inside of panel 46. Likewise, bottom closure panel 59 extends across to opposite side panel 47 and the closure flap 62 engages the inside of said side panel 47. Similarly, bottom closure panel 60 extends across to opposite side panel 48 and the closure flap 62 engages the inside of said side panel 48. Likewise, end closure panel 61 extends across to opposite side panel 49 with its closure flap 62 engaging the inside of said side panel 49. This completely closes the bottom of the octagonal tube. The closure flaps 62 may be coated with an adhesive to aid in the securement of same to the respective side panels, but is not believed absolutely necessary because of the overlapping of the end closure panels in forming the bottom of the container, and also the pressure of the material in the container on the flaps. This forms an open top octagonal container suitable for flower pots, etc.

However, in cases where a top for the container is desired, the top closure panels 52, 53, 54 and 55 are successively folded on score lines 56 so as to extend across the top with closure panels 52, 53, 54 and 55 engaging respectively side panels 46, 47 48 and 49, with the closure flaps 62 respectively engaging the upper margin of said side panels.

In an octagonal container formed from a single blank with top and bottom closure panels, it is not necessary that the closure panels extend, as shown in FIG. 4, from adjacent side panels. In fact, there are six alternatives to this arrangement and, for example, I have shown another arrangement in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5, the blank is shown as comprising the side panels 70, 7], 72, 73, 74, 75, 76 and 77 defined by fold lines 78. As in FIG. 4, a fold line 79 on edge of side panel 70 defines a glue strip 80 which may be adhesively coated. Thus when the side panels are folded on score lines 78, glue strip 80 may be adhesively attached to the free margin of side panel 77, thereby forming a hollow octagonal tube. Bottom closure panels 81, 82, 83 and 84 extend from side panels 71, 73, 74 and 76, respectively, and are defined by score lines 85. When these bottom closure panels are folded on the score lines 85, closure panels 81, 82 and 83 and 84 will extend across the open bottom of the container and respectively engage side panels 75, 77, 70 and 72, with the closure flaps 86 also being folded so as to engage flatwise the inside of said side panels.

The four bottom closure panels 8l-84 extending diametrically across the otherwise open bottom of the container effectively, closes said bottom, leaving the top open, and if this is the type of container desired, there would be no top closure panels provided on the blank. In cases where a top closure is desired, top closure panels 87, 88, 89 and 90 also extend from side panels 71, 73, 74 and 76, being defined by score lines 91. When these top closure panels 87, 88, 89 and 90 are folded on fold lines 91, they extend across the open top of the container and respectively engage the side panels 75, 77, 70 and 72 with the top closure flaps also being folded so as to engage flatwise the inner faces of the said side panels.

Although the embodiments constructed in accordance with the present invention have been described with the requisite particularity, the disclosure has been exemplary and of a hexagonal or octagonal container. The invention could be utilized with containers having a plurality of even-numbered sides. In any case when a container having four or more even numbered sides is used, the end closure panels would necessarily extend from half of the side panels. Changes in details of construction, in size, configuration and arrangement of components and materials, and in modes of application will be apparent to those versed in the art and may be resorted to without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An integral blank of foldable material for forming a polygonal container, said blank comprising a plurality of sideby-side rectangular side panels defined by lengthwise spaced fold lines, a connecting strip foldably connected along the outer longitudinal edge of one of said panels, end closure panels extending from alternate ones of said side panels, and connected thereto by score lines, said end closure panels each being substantially rectangular and having a width substantially equal to the width of said side panels and a length which extends across the end to an opposing side when the blank is folded to form a container, and end closure flaps connected to the ends of said end closure panels and being bendable about score lines connecting said end closure flaps to said end closure panels, said end closure panels each including laterally projecting ears along each side of said end closure flaps adapted to overlie the connected ends of adjacent ones of said end closure panels to secure the latter in closed relation across the end of the erected container.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein support means comprising legs extend integrally from the remaining ones of said side panels along the same side as said end closure panels.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein rectangular end closure panels extend from the opposite edge of the remaining ones of said side panels, said end closure panels each including end closure flaps having laterally projecting ears along each side thereof. 

1. An integral blank of foldable material for forming a polygonal container, said blank comprising a plurality of sideby-side rectangular side panels defined by lengthwise spaced fold lines, a connecting strip foldably connected along the outer longitudinal edge of one of said panels, end closure panels extending from alternate ones of said side panels, and connected thereto by score lines, said end closure panels each being substantially rectangular and having a width substantially equal to the width of said side panels and a length which extends across the end to an opposing side when the blank is folded to form a container, and end closure flaps connected to the ends of said end closure panels and being bendable about score lines connecting said end closure flaps to said end closure panels, said end closure panels each including laterally projecting ears along each side of said end closure flaps adapted to overlie the connected ends of adjacent ones of said end closure panels to secure the latter in closed relation across the end of the erected container.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein support means comprising legs extend integrally from the remaining ones of said side panels along the same side as said end closure panels.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein rectangular end closure panels extend from the opposite edge of the remaining ones of said side panels, said end closure panels each including end closure flaps having laterally projecting ears along each side thereof. 